Sri Lanka has been ranked the 6th among SAARC countries violating human rights according to a SAARC Human Rights Report released last week.Asian Centre for Human Rights Director Suhas Chakma speaking at the launch of the report at the South Asia Foreign Correspondent Club in New Delhi said Sri Lanka found itself at number 6 among the 7 SAARC countries primarily because of the fragile Cease-fire Agreement of 2002 which has resulted in the disappearance of ethnic Tamils whether journalists, political activists or innocent persons.

“The recent killing of aid workers, targeting of civilians and imposition of anti-terror laws will have direct bearing on the ranking of Sri Lanka's human rights record in the future.” Mr. Chakma said.

According to the SAARC Human Rights Violators Index 2006, Bangladesh has been ranked No. 1 violator of human rights, followed by Bhutan (No. 2), Nepal (No. 3), Maldives (No. 4), Pakistan (No.5), Sri Lanka (No.6) and India (No.7).

According to the report the Tamil journalists were specifically targeted by the security forces, armed groups and rightwing Sinhalese groups like the Janatha Vimukti Perumuna (JVP). At least 2 Tamil journalists were killed, at least 6 were physically attacked, at least 4 were arrested and at least 4 journalists received death threats in Sri Lanka.

“Torture and rape of ethnic Tamil women by the security forces were also reported,” the report stated.

Sri Lanka also took regressive measures for legal reforms. The Code of Criminal Procedure (Special Provisions) Act of 2005 of Sri Lanka increased the detention period from the existing 24 hours to 48 hours without producing before the judge. This law violates basic international human rights standards.

Covering eight member States of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), SAARC Human Rights Report 2006 analyses the human rights situation in the South Asian region in 2005. The report covers human rights violations by the governments and the armed opposition groups.

Human rights violations across South Asia are systemic, endemic; and torture forms part of the administration of justice. Prison conditions, which are overcrowded by 400% in some cases, reflect the true and deplorable condition of human rights in South Asia, the report said.